Portion closure and method of using

ABSTRACT

A dispensing container assembly includes a container having a threaded finish portion, at least one modular sealed vial that contains a substance, and a closure cap that is adapted to be screwed on to the container. The closure cap includes a closure main body having a top portion and a downwardly depending sidewall portion that is adapted to be secured to the container. An insert is positioned between the closure cap and the container for securing the modular sealed vial to the closure cap. The closure cap further includes structure for unsealing the sealed vial, and the inset includes releasing structure for releasing the unsealed vial from the vial securing structure in order that it may fall into the container. A method of dispensing a substance into the container is also disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention broadly relates to the field of packaging, and more specifically relates to a portion closure that is adapted to release a substance into a container.

2. Description of the Related Technology

Many substances that are in wide commercial use are able to be concentrated by the manufacturer and later reconstituted by the consumer by mixing the concentrated with water. It is often ecologically preferable to use concentrates rather than paying the economic and social costs of transporting the bulkier final product through the distribution chain to the consumer. Accordingly, many products are already being sold in concentrated form, with a variety of different structures having been advanced for mixing and reconstituting the concentrate into the final product.

One disadvantage of using a concentrate is that the consumer will often end up with the concentrate or the final product on his or her hands, which in some cases may be unpleasant or unhealthy, or the concentrate, the water or the final product may be spilled on to other surfaces. A need exists for a portion closure that provides a safe and convenient way to dispensing a concentrate into a container without the concentrate ever coming into direct contact with the consumer or the surrounding environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a portion closure that provides a safe and convenient way to dispensing a concentrate into a container without the concentrate ever coming into direct contact with the consumer or the surrounding environment.

In order to achieve the above and other objects of the invention, a closure cap dispensing system for a container according to one aspect of the invention includes a closure main body having a top portion and a downwardly depending sidewall portion that is adapted to be secured to a container; vial securing structure for securing a modular sealed vial that contains a substance; unsealing structure for unsealing the sealed vial; and releasing structure for releasing the vial from the vial securing structure.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a dispensing container assembly includes a container having a threaded finish portion; at least one modular sealed vial that contains a substance; and a closure cap including a closure main body having a top portion and a downwardly depending sidewall portion that is adapted to be secured to the container; vial securing structure for securing the modular sealed vial; unsealing structure for unsealing the sealed vial; and releasing structure for releasing the unsealed vial from the vial securing structure into the container.

These and various other advantages and features of novelty that characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and the objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a dispensing container assembly that is constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary isometric view of one component of the container assembly that is depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view depicting the container assembly in a first operative position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view depicting the container assembly in a second operative position; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view depicting the container assembly in a third operative position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding structure throughout the views, and referring in particular to FIG. 1, a dispensing container assembly 10 that is constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the invention includes a container 12 having a finish portion 14 that is provided with external threading 16 thereon. Dispensing container assembly 10 further includes a modular sealed vial 18 having a substance 20 therein which, for example, may be concentrated laundry detergent or any other concentrated liquid or solid substance that is intended to be mixed with fluid within the container 12. Vial 18 further includes a finish portion having external threading 22 and an adjacent annular ring 24, for purposes that will be described in greater detail below. Vial 18 is preferably sealed. In the illustrated embodiment, this is a accomplished by a sealing membrane 26, preferably made of foil that is sealed to the end of the finish portion of the vial 18.

Dispensing container assembly 10 further includes a closure cap assembly 28 that includes a closure cap 30 and a dispensing insert 32, both of which are illustrated in FIG. 1. Closure cap 30 is constructed and arranged to be screwed onto the finish portion 14 of the container 12, and preferably includes a main body portion 34 having a top portion 36 and a downwardly depending substantially cylindrical sidewall portion 38 that has at least one internal thread 40 molded integrally therein. For purposes that will be described in greater detail below, the underside of the top portion 36 includes a downwardly extending cylindrical projection 42 that is concentrically centered about a downwardly extending sharp axial projection or spike 44.

Referring now to FIG. 2, insert 32 is preferably molded in a single unitary piece from a plastic material such as polyethylene or polypropylene. As is shown in FIG. 2, insert 32 has a plurality of upwardly extending spring projections 46, each of which has a rounded upper surface 48 for contacting an underside 54 of the top portion 36 of the closure cap 30 for purposes that will be described in greater detail below. Insert 32 further includes a plurality of inwardly extending projections, each of which terminates in a hub segment 50 having internal threading 52. The hub segments 50 together define a socket into which the finish portion of the modular sealed vial 18 may be screwed.

FIG. 3 depicts the dispensing container assembly in a first operational position wherein the modular vial 18 has been screwed into the socket defined by the hub segments 50 of the insert 32 and the insert 32 has been placed between the closure cap 30 and the container 12. In the preferred embodiment, this is accomplished by seating the insert 32 in a small recess that is defined at the end of the finish portion 14 of the container 12. In this position, the external threading 22 of the vial 18 is interengaged with the internal threading 52 of the hub segment 50, and the annular ring 24 on the vial 18 is further in abutment with the end of the hub segment 50, thereby precisely locating the vial 18 with respect to the insert 32. The user will then begin to screw the closure cap 30 on to the finish portion 14 of the container 12. In the operational position that is shown in FIG. 3, the rounded upper surface is 48 of the respective spring projections 46 are in contact with the underside 54 of the top portion 36 of the closure cap 30, with no relative force being exerted therebetween. Therefore, the insert 32 is not stressed or flexed in any way. The sealing membrane 26 of the vial 18 is still intact.

FIG. 4 shows the dispensing container assembly 10 in a second operating position that is characterized by the closure cap 30 being screwed on to the finish portion 14 of the container 12 to a greater extent than it was in the position that is shown in FIG. 3. In this position, the underside 54 of the top portion 36 of the closure cap 30 is exerting force on the rounded upper surfaces 48 of the spring projections 46, causing some resistance to be felt by the consumer as the consumer continues to screw the closure cap 31 to the container 12. The entire closure cap 30 thus moves axially downwardly with respect to the container 12, causing the spike or projection 44 to penetrate the membrane 26 sealing the vial 18. In this way, the vial 18 is unsealed.

As the consumer continues to screw the closure cap 31 to the container 12, the operational position depicted in FIG. 5 will be reached. In this position, the spring projections 46 are completely depressed, becoming flush with the upper surface of the insert 32. In addition, the downwardly depending cylindrical projection 42 that is integral with the lower surface 54 of the top portion 36 of the closure cap 30 engages the inner surfaces 56 of the hub segments 50, thus deflecting the hub segments 50 outwardly, releasing the external threading 22 of the vial 18 from its interengagement with the internal threading 52 on the socket that is defined by the insert 32. The vial 18 is thus allowed to drop into the container, and the substance 20 contained therein is permitted to freely mixed with the fluid that is provided within the container 12.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A closure cap dispensing system for a container, comprising: a closure main body having a top portion and a downwardly depending sidewall portion that is adapted to be secured to a container; vial securing means for securing a modular sealed vial that contains a substance; unsealing means for unsealing said sealed vial; and releasing means for releasing said vial from said vial securing means.
 2. A closure cap dispensing system for a container according to claim 1, wherein said sidewall portion is threaded for engagement with mating threading on a container, and wherein said unsealing means is constructed and arranged to unseal said sealed vial when said closure is being screwed onto the container.
 3. A closure cap dispensing system according to claim 2, wherein said releasing means is also constructed and arranged to release said sealed vial when said closure is being screwed onto said container.
 4. A closure cap dispensing system according to claim 3, wherein said unsealing means is constructed and arranged to unseal said sealed vial when said closure has been screwed onto the container to a first extent, and said releasing means is constructed and arranged to release said sealed vial when said closure has been screwed onto the container to a second, greater extent.
 5. A closure cap dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein said releasing means is constructed and arranged to release said sealed vial when said closure is being screwed onto said container.
 6. A closure cap dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein said unsealing means is constructed and arranged to breach said sealed vial.
 7. A closure cap dispensing system according to claim 6, wherein said unsealing means is constructed and arranged to breach said sealed vial by penetrating a frangible membrane that is sealed to said vial.
 8. A closure cap dispensing system for a container according to claim 1, further comprising an insert that is mounted between said closure cap and a container and that is movable with respect to said closure main body, and wherein said vial securing means and said releasing means are positioned on said insert.
 9. A closure cap dispensing system according to claim 8, wherein said unsealing means is adapted to unseal said sealed vial when said insert is in a first location with respect to said closure main body.
 10. A closure cap dispensing system according to claim 8, wherein said releasing means is adapted to release said vial when said insert is in a second location with respect to said closure main body.
 11. A dispensing insert that is constructed and arranged to be mounted onto a container, comprising: vial securing means for securing to said insert a modular sealed vial that contains a substance; and releasing means for releasing said vial from said vial securing means, said releasing means being constructed and arranged to release said vial while a closure cap is being secured to the container.
 12. A dispensing insert according to claim 11, wherein said insert is constructed and arranged to be elastically deformed when the closure cap is being secured to the container, and wherein said releasing means is constructed and arranged to release said vial when said elastic deformation has reached a predetermined state.
 13. A dispensing container assembly, comprising: a container having a threaded finish portion; at least one modular sealed vial that contains a substance; and a closure cap comprising: a closure main body having a top portion and a downwardly depending sidewall portion that is adapted to be secured to a container; vial securing means for securing said modular sealed vial; unsealing means for unsealing said sealed vial; and releasing means for releasing said unsealed vial from said vial securing means into said container.
 14. An assembly according to claim 13, wherein said sidewall portion is threaded for engagement with said threaded finish portion, and wherein said unsealing means is constructed and arranged to unseal said sealed vial when said closure is being screwed onto the container.
 15. An assembly according to claim 14, wherein said releasing means is also constructed and arranged to release said sealed vial when said closure is being screwed onto said container.
 16. An assembly according to claim 15, wherein said unsealing means is constructed and arranged to unseal said sealed vial when said closure has been screwed onto the container to a first extent, and said releasing means is constructed and arranged to release said sealed vial when said closure has been screwed onto the container to a second, greater extent.
 17. An assembly according to claim 13, wherein said releasing means is constructed and arranged to release said sealed vial when said closure is being screwed onto said container.
 18. An assembly according to claim 13, wherein said unsealing means is constructed and arranged to breach said sealed vial.
 19. An assembly according to claim 18, wherein said unsealing means is constructed and arranged to breach said sealed vial by penetrating a frangible membrane that is sealed to said vial.
 20. An assembly according to claim 13, further comprising an insert that is mounted within said closure cap and that is movable with respect to said closure main body, and wherein said vial securing means and said releasing means are positioned on said insert.
 21. An assembly according to claim 20, wherein said unsealing means is adapted to unseal said sealed vial when said insert is in a first location with respect to said closure main body.
 22. An assembly according to claim 20, wherein said releasing means is adapted to release said vial when said insert is in a second location with respect to said closure main body.
 23. A method of dispensing a substance into a container, comprising steps of: (a) securing a sealed modular vial between a container and a closure cap; (b) unsealing the modular vial by screwing said closure cap onto said container by a first amount; and (c) releasing the unsealed vial into the container by continuing to screw said closure cap onto the container by a second amount.
 24. A method according to claim 23, wherein said second amount is greater than said first amount. 